Film hanger clip



21, 1961 A. J. NIEDERMAYER 2,972,201

FILM HANGER CLIP Filed larch 4 1959 IN V EN TOR. ALFRED J NIHJERMAYER ATTORNE Y5 United States. Patent o FILM HANGER CLIP Alfred 'J.Niedermayer, 960 Washington Ave., Evansville 13, Ind.

' Filed Mar. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 797,192

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-23) This invention relates to handles and moreparticularly and specifically to a removable, identification handle forX-ray film hangers.

It is, and has been, a common, prevailing practice in radiologicallaboratories to process X-ray film while it is clamped or clipped withina generally rectangular hanger frame. The usual hanger frame is providedwith a side projecting headbar component which overhangs and restsacross the top of opposed sides of the respective developing, fixing andwashing tanks used in the processing of such film.

It has been found that in practice, particularly in thehospital-associated radiological laboratories, substantial time isconsumed and wasted by technicians and doctors in hunting through thetanks and viewing X-ray films in process in an attempt to locateparticular X-ray films in which doctors have an immediate interest anddesire to read wet without waiting for full processing.

It is, therefore, a general object of this invention to provide a uniqueidentification handle for X-ray film hangers which will'serve, in use,to eliminate the con sumption of time and eliminate the annoyance anderrors which attend the location and accurate identification of X-rayfilms which. are in developing process.

. It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a. uniquehandle member which is quickly and easily attached and removed from thetop headbar component of an X-ray film hanger.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of aunique handle construction for use on X- ray film hangers which may bereadily and inexpensively manufactured in multiple sets of varyingcolors to permit use thereof in a manner to allow for quick coloridentification of film hangers to which the handles might be attached.

It is another object of this invention to provide a unique handle memberwhich is quickly and easily attached and removed from the headbarcomponent of an X-ray film hanger which carries an easily applied andremoval visual identification in a prominent position on the uppersurface of the hanger where it is readily visible when the film hangeris supported in a processing tank in the usual manner.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of anidentification handle of the type described which, in addition to visualidentification, provides for a coded, sensual or touch identificationwhich can be detected and read by touch in a darkroom with ease andaccuracy.

Still another and further object of this invention resides in anidentification handle for X-ray film hangers which resiliently snapsonto the upper or headbar component of the usual hanger frame to besecurely retained thereon and insure against loss or displacement so asto maintain a positive identification of the hanger at all times, and tofurther provide a secure handgrip to facilitate handling of the hangerframe during film processing.

Still a further object of this invention lies in the provision of aunique identification handle of the type de- Patented Fee. t, test halscribed which is attractive, inexpensive in manufacture, and durable andlong-lasting in use.

Still further objects and advantages of this invention will become morereadily apparent to those skilled in the art when the followingdescription is read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective illustration of an identification handle made inaccordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a pictorial illustration of the identification handle in useon a film hanger.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the identification handle and filmhanger as shown in Fig. 2.

In the handling of X-ray film during processing in a radiologicallaboratory, and particularly in development of the film in darkroomprocedures, it is the common practice to utilize for each film negative,a film hanger of the type generally designated at 10, Fig. 2, in thedrawings. Such hangers consist of a generally U-shaped wire or metallicframe 12 having an inverted, channel-shaped headbar or rail component 14bridging the open end of the U frame and extending, as at 16, for aspaced distance beyond each side thereof. The side extensions 16 of theframe headbar provide supporting shoulders which normally engage andrest on the top edges of opposed sides of a processing tank to suspendthe frame within the developer, fixer or wash solution within the tank.

The hanger frame 12 is provided, top and bottom, with spring type clips18 and 29 respectively, the top clips 18 being supported on the remoteends of a rod 22 secured centrally to the top frame component 14, andthe lower clips 20 being secured directly on the U frame 12. An X-rayfilm (not shown) is supported within the frame by these clips whichengage in the areas of the corners of the film.

The identification handle 24 consists of a molded body form of plastic,metallic or other suitable material. The handle body form consists of agenerally elongated block member having an undercut channel 26longitudinally of the upper face thereof, and having a grooved channel28 formed longitudinally in the bottom edge or face thereof.

In more particular detail, the handle block in cross sectionalconfiguration, Fig. 3, consists of a central vertical web section 30merging at its upper end into a perpendicular T-head 32 which presents aflat upper face defined on each edge longitudinally thereof by anangular, overhanging head 34. The overhanging beads 34 on opposed edgesof the upper face define and form the undercut channel 26. Further, thesurface of the face defined between the beads 34 is stippled, orotherwise roughened, in manufacture to provide a receptive surface forchalk or crayon identification application thereto which can be readilyerased or washed off subsequently.

The lower end of the central web portion 3t) fiows into the lowerbifurcated end of the handle defined by two identical depending legmembers 36 spaced apart and, in turn, defining the grooved channel 28.The grooved channel 28 is generally rectangular in cross section at itsinnermost end simulating the cross sectional shape of the headbarcomponent 14 of a typical hanger frame. The inner, opposed faces of theleg members 3d adjacent the mouth of the channel 28 are provided withrounded beads 33 defining arcuate shoulders outwardly of the rectangularshaped inner area of the channel and restricting entry thereinto frombelow the handle. The beads 38 taper outwardly and downwardly to pointedends 4t) at the extremity of each leg 36.

The central web section 33 of the handle is provided with a longitudinalgroove 42 opening upwardly therein from the central rectangular area ofthe grooved channel 28 whereby the flexibility of the legs 36 isincreased by general elongation. Further, the groove 42 is taperedinwardly in a vertical direction to permit a wedging attachment of thehandle to a filing card, envelope or folder for content identificationin filing or transmittal procedures.

To complete the handle construction, the outer, generally vertical edgeface of one of the overhanging beads 34 on the upper T-head of thehandle is provided with vertical notches 44 therein in selective numbersand spaced relationships so as to provide a touch-system code foridentification of the handle and the X-ray film supported in the hangerframe to which such handle is removably attached.

In use of the identification handle hereinbefore described, it isreadily seen that several visual aids are provided in addition to thesensual touch identification means offered by the system of codednotches. First, by supplying handles in a multiple of sets with each setbeing of a different color, it is seen that a doctor or patient codesystem can be quickly established by color alone. If a doctor code isset up in colors, then patient identification can be established bywritten indicia on the textured upper surface or by use of indiciabearing tabs insert in the slot 26. For example, a paper or card form oftab bearing identification indicia relating to the doctor or patientwith whom the particular X-ray film is associated is telescopicallyinserted in the channel 26 with the edges retained beneath theoverhanging beads 34 on either side of the channel. Such identificationtabs might be Celluloid or plastic covered for protection, and theycould be adhesively backed for retention in handle groove 26.

The bifurcated legs 36 of the handle are then forced down over opposedsides of the upper head component of the hanger frame. As seen in Fig.3, the head component 14 will be moved into registry with the innerrectangular area of the groove 28 locating the beads 38 in a retainingposition outwardly therefrom. Thus, the handle is securely, butdetachably, connected to the hanger frame.

The utilization of a coded system of notches 44 on the vertical edgeface of the handle further permits the quick and accurate identificationof an X-ray film hanger by a sense of touch in a darkroom or otherunlighted processing area.

It becomes obvious that the unique handles herein- 4 before provided maybe easily removed from the hanger frames and reused with a change in theprinted or visual identification associated therewith, as it is alsoobvious that variations in colors of the handles would serve to code oridentify X-ray films in groups determined by association with particulardoctors, a particular floor or hospital ward, or particular patients.

From the foregoing it is seen that a unique and highly usefulidentification handle has been provided which functions to satisfy allof those objects and advantages heretofore set forth. It is furtherevident and contemplated that variations in materials, specificconfigurations and other physical characteristics are possible withinthe scope of the inventive concepts hereinbefore delined, and it issuggested that the only limitations applicable hereto are those madenecessary by the prior art and by the hereinafter appended claims.

Having thus described and explained the construction, operation andfunctional advantages of my invention, what I desire to claim is:

1. An identification handle for attachment to an X-ray film hanger,comprising an elongate body of substantially T-shaped cross section, aflat surface on the upper face tion defining with said flat surface anidentification tab receiving channel, the lower stem portion of saidbody being bifurcated into spaced resilient leg members defining a filmhanger receiving and retaining groove longitudinally of said body, awedge slot opening inwardly from the inner extremity of said hangerreceiving groove, said wedge slot being of lesser transverse dimensionthan said groove.

2. An identification handle as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilientfingers are provided on opposed surfaces thereof adjacent the outerextremities with arcuate beads restricting the mouth of the groovedefined between said fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

